Following such highly regarded in-ear monitors as the AT-CK10, these IEMs mark Audio-Technica’s next foray into the affordable, high-end IEM market. Both models feature balanced armature drivers: three per ear in the LS300 and four per ear in the LS400 Read More

I've liked Audio-Technica for a very long time. Used to own the AD1000, AD2000 and IM03, still have the IM04. When the LS400 was first released I immediately jumped on the bandwagon, mainly because I love my IM04 so much. Imagine my disappointment when I expect it to be an IM04 upgrade. The LS400, compared to IM04, is worse in almost everyway. Sound wise, the highs and lows are better on the LS400, but the cohesion is very far off--- it almost sounds like the drivers are handling different frequencies while in IM04, the transition between low, mids and highs is fantastic. The romantic mids is also gone, a radical departure from traditional Audio-Technica house sound. It sounds cold, uninviting, and too analytical. I even bothered to upgrade to both the 323A and 313 upgrade cable, and to my tremendous disappointment, they are just marginally better than stock cable. Fit wise, I don't see them as an improvement either. The IM04 can comfortably stay in my ears for a few hours, with LS400 I'm having constant ear pain in just minutes.
I suggest anyone who's interested in an 'Audio-Technica' Audio-Technica IEM to stray from this IEM. The tuning isn't traditional AT at all, and trust me, the fit isn't very good either. I regret throwing $600 on this IEM and $230 on the two cables. For the price I paid, these are absolute garbage with zero redeeming qualities. I still use them from time to time, and every time they make me wonder how I dropped almost a grand on this horrible garbage.

T800 doesn't have as huge as soundstage as A8. However it's more fun sounding. A.k.a. more bass and v shaped than A8. As I need holographic imaging for studio mixing, A8 is the only way to go for me. However, you might feel A8 is boring without additional equalizing.

I own LS300. There's only one word from me: NO.
Unless my pair is defective or counterfeit, it sounds like SHIT.
My old pair of im03 is good, e40 is great, ckr100 is great, tin p1 is great, andromeda is great, and this is SHIT.
By a random guy on internet.

I already have a KZ ZS10 (4 BAs + 1 DD per side: 2x50060, 2x30095 and the 10mm DD), and I don't have the "sharp sounding" issue (the bump over a frequency range) that is otherwise reported with the all armature KZ BA10 (5 BAs/side: 2x30095, 1x31005, 1x296898, 1x22955); from reviews for the all BAs from KZ. At least partly, this could be because KZ seems to use off the shelf components than customizing/tuning them like costlier brands. I guess it's a fair tradeoff given the money one saves over the choice. This is how much I could find out from the KZ products I own, and corroborating my finds from other reviewers. Yes, tuning is something KZ could do to improve response, but I don't think they have started caring yet.

The LS400i is a superb IEM, probably the best you can get in the mid-fi range. It has a very balanced but lively sound, the bass is present but not heavy, just right; mids are balanced, and highs are soft but again present whenever you need them. This is a fine, careful tuning, much to my taste, that seems very close to a speaker-like sound (keeping proportions). The fit is perfect, and they are surprisingly light, small and thin compared to similar IEMs. If you think you can get all this with cheaper ChiFi, you are naive.

Found this on Newegg. can anyone please clarify
WARNING: This product can expose you to chemicals including one or more listed chemicals which are known to the State of California to cause cancer or birth defects or other reproductive harm. For more information, go to www.P65Warnings.ca.gov

So since I will not be able to test run these before I purchase them, I am asking to see how the Massdrop + Universal, Nobel X and the LS-300is all around this pricing best for my need...
1) on portable device (NW-ZX100) only, I prefer over the ear headphones at home
2) preference of music - classical (mainly violin and symphonies) and some JPops
3) use them during daily commute in public transportation (buses and subway), I use over the ear NC headphones when I am having my plane ride
I some time feel that unlike using a DAC, Amp and listen in a quiet room, I only use the IEM on my portable device which isn't top notch, I am listening in a kind of noise environment... so is the quality of the IEM even make that much difference? Will a cheap one work as well since I am not listening in a quiet environment anyway?
I will post this under the other 2 IEM I am interested as well. Any advise will help!

Form factor is completely independent of sound quality. My my best sounding IEMs, Etymōtic Research ER4XR, as well as my best sounding earbuds, Shozy BK, both have better sound quality than my best sounding headphone, Sennheiser HD650.